Worcester firefighter in gun, stalking case remains held without bail

Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Monday January 14, 2013 at 10:00 am

Updated Monday January 14, 2013 at 7:01 pm

A city firefighter accused of threatening his estranged wife — and illegally possessing a cache of guns and ammunition — was deemed a danger to the community and his wife today by a Central District Court judge.

The decision by Judge Michael Fabbri means Jonathan Peters, 29, of 66 Indiana St., will remain held without bail as his gun possession and stalking case continues in court.

Worcester Fire Department officials said today that the probationary firefighter was placed on an unpaid leave of absence Thursday. Firefighter Peters joined the department in June.

Anthony M. Salerno, the lawyer for Firefighter Peters, argued that his client never threatened violence with the weapons and was never physical with his estranged wife, the woman who claims her husband of six years threatened to kill her this month.

Mr. Salerno said the allegations of possessing a dozen guns, some military-style assault weapons, without an FID card or license to carry, couldn’t have come at a worse time for his client, considering the nation is on high-alert after the tragic Newtown, Conn., killings inside an elementary school.

“There are a lot of guns, but that’s it,” Mr. Salerno said. “He’s never once suggested he was going to be violent.”

Assistant District Attorney Edward N. Karcasinas Jr. said Firefighter Peters showed escalating conduct toward his wife, going from following her around to threatening to kill her.

The possession of many guns, one of them an illegal sawed-off shotgun, was also a concern, the prosecutor said.

“What’s most chilling about it is many of them were loaded,” Mr. Karcasinas said.

Before the dangerous hearing, Firefighter Peters was arraigned on two new charges, threatening to commit a crime and witness intimidation. He was arraigned last week on several illegal gun and ammunition possession charges and stalking.

Firefighter Peters sent his estranged wife multiple text messages Jan. 5, and she eventually called him. At one point during a telephone conversation, his wife told Firefighter Peters that she was going to get a restraining order, court records on file in Central District Court said.

Firefighter Peters allegedly threatened to kill his wife after she made that statement, court records said.

Firefighter Peters’ 31-year-old wife testified in the hearing. She said she and her husband have not lived together since October and over that time he has followed her, sent her messages and recently threatened her.

She said Firefighter Peters told her he would kill her this month.

“’Til death do us part,” was a text message she received after the threat, she said in court.

Mr. Salerno said Firefighter Peters is a U.S. Army veteran who fought in Iraq twice. The guns were registered in Georgia and were part of a collection. Firefighters Peters and his wife used to go to firing ranges together. She testified that she is a gun enthusiast and the seized weapons in the case are being disputed as part of a possible divorce.

A Worcester detective testified that some guns found in Firefighter Peters’ home were loaded and found under a couch cushion. The sawed-off shotgun was in a drawer and was loaded.

But the detective could not say who actually owned the weapons. Firefighter Peters’ wife said she had a license to possess the weapons but she was no longer living in the home. Her parents sat with Firefighters Peters’ parents and did not want him to be locked up any longer, Mr. Salerno said.